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Failure of Cuben Tarp Ridge Line Tie Outs

Had my new HG 4S Cuben Tarp out for the second time last weekend. Unfortunately the plastic D-Ring on the ridge line snapped off during the first night followed by the one on the other side the next morning. The ridgeline was snug but not overly so, but the temperature was in the low single digits so I assume the plastic was more brittle than usual. It's still a little disappointing on a tarp that cost this much . I just used a larks head knot on each side through the loop on each side to put it back up.

Wondering if anyone else had this same issue on their tarp? I'd also be interested in thoughts on how to rig the ridgeline now. I know some cut these off to save a bit of weight and the larks head works fine but I don't necessarily want to have the tarp be the weakest link in the chain so to speak and risk tearing it.

Contact Adam or Jen and they will take care of anything wrong for sure. They are awesome on their cuben tarp repairs and such. You could have just gotten a lemon of a plastic D Ring is all. I just got back my cuben tarp where something caustic caused a melted spot on it,,and it looks new the way it was repaired. I still don't know how or what I got on it to cause the cuben material to melt, so take care of your cuben goodness. Love the cuben and will keep abusing it all I can.

I have just last week during extreme winds. D rings are just plastic and it really isn't a biggie that it happpened. They are the weakest link on a tarp and something like the trees swaying could have popped them off. Better thank than the tarp itself.

I just use the gross grain for attachment points. I've actually had my s biners bend and the gross grain was fine.

They are the weakest link on a tarp and something like the trees swaying could have popped them off. Better thank than the tarp itself

Fronkey

Exactly my thought - I don't really care about the D rings but if they are designed as the weak link to protect the tarp itself, will attaching directly to the tarp create a risk? I'll see what Adam says and report back.

Sorry to hear about the D-rings snapping. More than likely it was due to the colder temperatures affecting the plastic while under load. While we have tested them in most conditions, including single digits, and had good results, I can see that there could be conditions where they might fail (obviously). They are, after all, 1/2 inch plastic d-rings.

We decided to use those particular rings for a couple of reasons. One, they go a long way to keep the weight down. I would put Dutchware titanium d-rings on every tarp if I could afford it. They are strong and who does not like titanium? Also, we build the tarp in such a way that if there is a failure to one of the d-rings, the remaining webbing attachment can still be used for the pullout. This allows the user to finish the trip and send it back to us for repair if deemed necessary.

We have a good number of our cuben tarps out in the market now and we have had only heard of a very few instances of failure. Few enough that manufacture defects of the d-rings themselves could be a factor.

It goes without say, but I will say it, that we will fix your tarp if you send it back to us. I apologize for any hardship you might have experienced out on the trail.

It's always good to have a "weak link" (other than the tarp) in the system. Plastic and cold don't always go together well. Consider putting a small loop of 1/8" polyester shock cord in the ridgeline. Polyester shock cord does better in bitter cold than nylon.